Punjab Govt. ropes in Yuvraj Singh as ambassador for its state-wide drive against cancer

Punjab launched a campaign on Tuesday to make people aware about cancer, while roping in popular cricket Yuvraj Singh as its brand ambassador.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Yuvraj Singh launched the statewide drive against cancer in Chandigarh.

The campaign would cover all the 22 districts of the state where the government would launch awareness and screening campaigns.

Steps would be taken to provide medicines to people who are suffering from cancer and adequate medical care would also be given to them.

"The Government of Punjab launched a programme in its war against Cancer. And for this with the help of Government of India and Baba Institute in Bombay we have decided to shortly open a 400 bed cancer hospital with the latest technology," Badal told media here today.

Yuvraj Singh, while recalling the most difficult phase of his life and sporting career, said that the battle against cancer is always fought alone.

"Even I have fought against cancer, and therefore, I request the people of Punjab to come and get themselves tested, before it's too late. Yes, one feels scared and I was also afraid. But I would like to say that one will have to fight on their own against cancer," he said.

The National Cancer Registry's research shows that new cancer cases are likely to rise to 1.14 million in 2015 and to 1.32 million in 2020 and estimates a possible 21 percent rise in cancer cases in India in the next seven years.